Turnovers doom Whippets in loss

By Matt Stevenssports@norwichbulletin.com EAST LYME – Windham coach Brian Crudden said it best: “New London answered the bell.”

The Whalers forced four turnovers en route to a 34-14 win Friday night in East Lyme.

“I told my kids that we were playing a good football team regardless of their record,” Crudden said. “We need to protect the ball. We don’t want interceptions, fumbles. In high school football you don’t want to give up turnovers or big plays and tonight turnovers led to big plays.”

The first turnover came at the 7:40 mark when fullback Gilberto Torres lost the handoff and the Whalers pounced on the loose ball. New London cashed in three plays later on a Nico Ramos 34 yard touchdown run.

Windham was able to answer three plays later, courtesy of a Joseph Santiago 30-yard touchdown run. However, just over three minutes later Jack Risley threw his first of two interceptions when Ramos picked him off and scored his second touchdown of the game, making it 19-6.

Windham was able to cut the deficit to 19-14 on a Torres 2-yard touchdown run and headed to the locker room trailing by only 5. The third quarter saw the Whalers score 15 points in a 3:20 span, which included a safety, a 35-yard Orrin Parke touchdown run and capped with a Ashi Harkness 50-yard fumble return touchdown, which ultimately put the game out of reach for the Whippets.

Back on track

“This win puts us back on track,” New London coach Duane Maranda said. “Everybody gets up for us and we were able to focus on us and have no outside distractions. We had a good week of practice and these guys not only picked themselves up by myself as well. We were able to rally around each other.”

Maranda also applauded the turnovers forced by his defense.

“It gave us energy,” he said “It was a complete team effort though. The O-line clicked which opened up our run and screen game. The special teams helped with Chase Cook getting a few touchbacks and forcing Windham to start from their own 20.”

Despite the loss, Crudden took a few positives from his team.

“We got to play some young guys, which lets us find out who can play in adverse situations,” he said.

The win puts New London at 2-2 overall, while the Whippets drop to 3-2.